Educational.
Financial.
10
Not included in the above: one squadron of "chasseurs Annamites," a "peloton de cavaliers de remonte," and perhaps one or two companies of "tirailleurs Chinois," which may have been raised recently, in accordance with a decision arrived at about two years ago.
In the "infanterie coloniale" the strength of the company varies from 150 to 250, it being very rare for a company to be of full strength, and many—perhaps the majority—not mustering more than 150. In this connection I may, however, observe that the French garrison in Cochin China was returned not long ago at 2,536, which would give the ten to eleven companies stationed there (see map) nearly their full strength.
The total number of all the troops in Indo-China is thus not far short of 35,000, the greater part being in Tonquin. This force is, moreover, to be further increased on both the native and foreign side, and two battalions are, I hear, already on their way out from France.
In addition, there is a strong police force, composed as follows:—
Municipal police
Gendarmerie
Garde indigène
150-200
250 (?)
5,500 in Tonquin.
2,100 in Annam.
The "garde indigène" is under the command of over 300 French officers. There is a small body of militia in Cochin China and Cambodia, of the strength and composition of which I have no information.
Besides these forces, there is available, in case of necessity, the whole civil population, which consists of some 7,000 (after deducting 2,000 for women and children). All these men, who have presumably served their time in the Army at home, are, up to the age of 45, liable to be called upon to aid in the defence of the country, and are, I believe, subjected to periodical training.
In view of this large number of auxiliary forces, and considering the peaceable character of the people, the absence of anti-foreign feeling among them, to which all residents here bear witness, and the abundant means of rapid communication, I am of opinion that an army of 20,000 to 25,000 men could be spared for operations in South China, should developments there render action necessary or desirable in the interests of France, with little or no risk of tempting any malcontents there may be to stir up a revolt which could not be promptly suppressed. In this connection it is also to be noted that there are nearly a million Catholic converts in the country, who would no doubt, in the case of internal dissension, follow the lead of their spiritual advisers.
The native converts in China have, on the whole, stood faithfully by the missionaries in time of trouble, and it is to be supposed that the Annamites would prove equally true. These native Christians must, therefore, be considered an important factor in strengthening the position of the French.
Very few Frenchmen are acquainted with the native language, and it is rare to find an official who is able to converse with the inhabitants without the help of an interpreter. On the other hand, a great many Annamites speak a little French, and the Government makes serious efforts to extend its use, maintaining a hundred or more French schoolmasters for that purpose in various parts of the country. The missionaries also do an important educational work, there being between 700 and 800 Mission schools, where the natives, in receiving religious instruction, learn the French language and imbibe French ideas.
In my last Report I stated the total revenue of Indo-China to be nearly 41,000,000 dollars, of which a little over 27,000,000 dollars was on account of the General Budget. I propose now to give some details of the receipts and expenditure, with a view to enabling a rough idea to be formed of the financial resources of the Colony, and the amount it will be able to dispose of for the advancement of French ambitions in the East, to which purpose a considerable sum of money is already being applied.
The chief sources of revenue for the General Budget were:—
Customs Dollars. 6,250,000 Indirect taxes and excise 17,600,000 Registration of property and stamp taxes 1,027,000 Posts and telegraphs 461,000 Railways 283,000 Forests 291,000 Interest on capital 1,230,000 Total 27,142,00011
The last item—interest on capital—is not quite clear. It presumably includes interest on the reserve, which, however, would yield nothing like the sum entered. Possibly it consists partly of interest on the proceeds of the railway loan deposited in banks awaiting expenditure.
The second item is, I believe, made up principally of the yield of the opium, alcohol, and salt monopolies. The receipts from opium have shown a large increase since the Government took over the working of the monopoly instead of farming it out as previously; but there is not likely to be much further expansion under this head in the near future unless the smuggling from Yunnan can be stopped, in which case an increase of half-a-million dollars or more might be expected.
As regards the alcohol and salt monopolies I have no definite information, and the other items speak for themselves. It should, however, be observed that they are all such as to necessarily give a greater yield with the development of the country.
The expenditure may be conveniently classified thus:
Civil Departments of Government Dollars. 9,040,000 Military Native army 4,870,000 Navy 422,000 Gendarmerie 208,000 Transport 420,000 Maritime Postal Service (? subsidies to shipping) 943,000 French establishments in the East (mostly schools, hospitals, and post-offices in China and Siam) 365,000 Railways 455,000 Public works 4,444,000 Miscellaneous (largely luxuries, such as scientific Missions, exhibitions, &c.; probably, also, 500,000 dollars for Kwangehouwan) 1,224,000 Debts repayable by annuities (mostly spent in reproductive works) 4,737,000 Total 27,128,000The last item apparently consists of payments in respect of the loans of 1896 and 1898. The items maritime postal service and "French establishments in the East" would appear to be expended in the interest of France rather than of Indo-China, and might probably be struck out without loss to the natives. The same may be said to a slight extent of the military expenses, the large army maintained not being necessary for the protection of the country and obviously kept in preparation for French territorial aggrandizement in South China.
286
The local budgets amounted in the aggregate to just over 13,000,000 dollars. As stated previously, their revenue is derived principally from direct taxes, and would seem therefore not likely to show much expansion in the near future. I have, however, but little information on this matter, and cannot speak with any certainty. The receipts appear to be applied almost entirely to the ordinary expenses of government and do not call for any comment. The total amount spent on public works was 910,000 dollars—on education (partly for children of colonists) 590,000 dollars, and on the garde indigène in Tonquin and Annam 1,094,000 dollars. The expenditure under the last head might probably be greatly reduced without risk to the internal tranquillity of the country.
Looking, then, at the expenditure of the total revenue of nearly 41,000,000 dollars, the striking feature is that after paying all the expenses of a thoroughly well-equipped government there was available a sum of 10,000,000, or about a quarter of the whole, for public works, and a further amount of one to two millions expended in the interest of France rather than of Indo-China. And in order to appreciate the full significance of this it must be borne in mind that the public works are principally of a productive nature, and that, being for the most part only recently completed or still in course of execution, they have as yet yielded no return. This sum, as well as considerable amounts expended in previous years, the full benefit of which has not yet been reaped, must therefore be looked upon to a great extent as an investment, the interest on which will help to swell the revenue in years to come. Taking into consideration all these facts, I think I shall be well within the mark in estimating at 500,000l. to 1,000,000l., the annual sum Indo-China will be able to place at the disposal of France for what may be called Imperial purposes, which purposes will, I...
The cost of the French troops appears to be paid by France, the grant for those in Tonquin and Annam being in 1901 (?) just over 900,000l.
[884]
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Educational.
Financial.
10
Not included in the above: one squadron of "chasseurs Annamites," a "peloton de cavaliers de remonte," and perhaps one or two companies of "tirailleurs Chinois,"| which may have been raised recently, in accordance with a decision arrived at about two years ago.
In the "infanterie coloniale" the strength of the company varies from 150 to 250, it being very rare for a company to be of full strength, and many--perhaps the majority-not mustering more than 150. In this connection I may, however, observe that the French garrison in Cochin China was returned not long ago at 2,536, which would give the ten to eleven companies stationed there (see map) nearly their full strength.
The total number of all the troops in Indo-China is thus not far short of 35,000, | the greater part being in Tonquin. This force is, moreover, to be further increased o both the native and foreign side, and two battalions are, I hear, already on their way out from France.
In addition, there is a strong police force, composed as follows :—
Municipal police
Gendarmerie
Garde indigène
150-200
250 (?)
5,500 in Tonquiu. 2,100 in Annam.
The "garde indigène" is under the command of over 300 French officers. There is a small body of militia in Cochin China and Cambodia, of the strength and compo sition of which I have no information.
Besides these forces, there is available, in case of necessity, the whole civil population, which consists of some 7,000 (after deducting 2,000 for women and children). All these men, who have presumably served their time in the Army at home, are, up to the age of 45, liable to be called upon to aid in the defence of the country, and are, I believe, subjected to periodical training.
In view of this large number of auxiliary forces, and considering the peaceable character of the people, the absence of anti-foreign feeling among them, to which all residents hear witness, and the abundant means of rapid communication, I am of opinion that an army of 20,000 to 25,000 men could be spared for operations in South China, should developments there render action necessary or desirable in the interests of France, with little or no risk of tempting any malcontents there may be to stir up a revolt which could not be promptly suppressed. In this connection it is also to be noted that there are nearly a million Catholic converts in the country, who would no doubt, in the case of internal dissension, follow the lead of their spiritual advisers,
The native converts in China have, on the whole, stood faithfully by the mission. aries in time of trouble, and it is to be supposed that the Annamites would prove. equally true. These native Christians must, therefore, be considered an important factor in strengthening the position of the French,
Very few Frenchmen are acquainted with the native language, and it is rare to find an official who is able to converse with the inhabitants without the help of a interpreter. On the other hand, a great many Annamites speak a little French, and the Government makes serious efforts to extend its use, maintaining a hundred r more French schoolmasters for that purpose in various parts of the country. The missionaries also do an important educational work, there being between 700 and 800 Mission schools, where the natives, in receiving religious instruction, learn the Frencà. language and imbibe French ideas.
In my last Report I stated the total revenue of Indo-China to be nearly 41,000,000 dollars, of which a little over 27,000,000 dollars was on account of the General Budget. I propose now to give some details of the receipts and expenditure, with a view to enabling a rough idea to be formed of the financial resources of the Colony, and the amount it will be able to dispose of for the advancement of French ambitions in the East, to which purpose a considerable sum of money is already being|| applied.
The chief sources of revenue for the General Budget were:—-
Customs
Indirect taxes and excise
Registration of property and stamp taxes
Posts and telegraphs
Railways
Forests
Interest on capital
Total
Dollars. 6,250,000 17,600,000
1,027,000
461,000
283,000
291,000 1,230,000
27,142,000
11
The last item-interest on capital-is not quite clear. It presumably includes interest on the reserve, which, however, would yield nothing like the sum entered. Possibly it consists partly of interest on the proceeds of the railway loan deposited in banks awaiting expenditure.
The second item is, I believe, made up principally of the yield of the opium, alcohol, and salt monopolies. The receipts from opium have shown a large increase since the Government took over the working of the monopoly instead of farming it out as previously; but there is not likely to be much further expansion under this head in the near future unless the smuggling from Yunnan can be stopped, in which case an increase of half-a-million dollars or more might be expected.
As regards the alcohol and salt monopolies I have no definite information, and the other items speak for themselves. It should, however, be observed that they are all such as to necessarily give a greater yield with the development of the country.
The expenditure may be conveniently classified thus
Civil Departments of Government .. Military*-
Native army ....
Navy
Gendarmerie..
Trausport
Maritime Postal Service (? subsidies to shipping)
Dollars.
9,040,000
Dollars.
4,870,000
422,000
208,000
420,000
5,920,000
943,000
French establishments in the East (mostly schools, hospitals, and post-
offices in China and Sian)
365,000
Railways
455,000
Pablic works..
4,444,000
Miscellaneous (largely luxuries, such as scientific Missions, exhibitions, &c. ;
probably, also, 500,000 dollars for Kwangehouwan)..
1,224,000
4,737,000
27,128,000
Debts repayable by annuities (mostly spent in reproductire works)
Total
The last item apparently consists of payments in respect of the loans of 1896 and 1898. The items maritime postal service and "French establishments in the East would appear to be expended in the interest of France rather than of Indo- China, and might probably be struck out without loss to the natives. The same may be said to a slight extent of the military expenses, the large army maintained not being necessary for the protection of the country and obviously kept in preparation for French territorial aggrandizement in South China.
286
The local budgets amounted in the aggregate to just over 13,000,000 dollars. As Local budgets. stated previously, their revenue is derived principally from direct taxes, and would seem therefore not likely to show much expansion in the near future. I have, how- ever, but little information on this matter, and cannot speak with any certainty. The receipts appear to be applied almost entirely to the ordinary expenses of government and do not call for any comment. The total amount spent on public works was 910,000 dollars-on education (partly for children of colonists) 590,000 dollars, and on the garde indigène in Tonquin and Annam 1,094,000 dollars. The expenditure under the last head might probably be greatly reduced without risk to the internal tranquillity of the country.
Looking, then, at the expenditure of the total revenue of nearly 41,000,000 General remarks dollars, the striking feature is that after paying all the expenses of a thoroughly well on expenditure. equipped government there was available a sum of 10,000,000, or about a quarter of the whole, for public works, and a further amount of one to two millions expended in the interest of France rather than of Indo-China. And in order to appreciate the full significance of this it must be borne in mind that the public works are principally of a productive nature, and that, being for the most part only recently completed or still in course of execution, they have as yet yielded no return. This sum, as well as con- siderable amounts expended in previous years, the full benefit of which has not yet been reaped, must therefore be looked upon to a great extent as an investment, the interest on which will help to swell the revenue in years to come. Taking into con sideration all these facts, I think I shall be well within the mark in estimating at 500,000l. to 1,000,0007, the annual sum Indo-China will be able to place at the disposal of France for what may be called Imperial purposes, which purposes will, I
The cost of the French troops appears to be paid by France, the grant for those in Tonquin and Annam being in 1901 (?) just over 900,0007.
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